Education Commons^™

Mb4t (Mathematics By And For Teachers): Not All Inequalities Are Created Equal, Jennifer Holm

Education Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Illinois Wesleyan Recognized Among Nation's "Best" By The Princeton Review, John Twork

News and Events (Discontinued Series)

No abstract provided.

The Identification Of Future Professional Skills For The Graduate Structural Engineer And The Co-Creation Of Their Definitions., Aimee Byrne, Una Beagon, Darren Carthy, Patrick Crean, Caitriona Depaor, Louise Lynch, Dervilla Niall

Conference Papers

Employers recognise that the future is changing and as such the structural engineer’s role is changing along with the skill set required. The skills gap has been acknowledged yet there is no consensus on which skills are most important for these engineers. This research presents the outcome of a project which proposes future professional skills needs for the structural engineer and the co-creation of their definitions. A review of the most recent relevant literature alongside chartership requirements of the Institution of Structural Engineers (IStructE) and Engineers Ireland (EI), as well as consideration of three seminal consultation and analysis reports on …

Getting Girls Back To School In Kenya: The 4ts ('Trace, Track, Talk And Return') Initiative Implementation Report, George Odwe, Chi-Chi Undie, Ann Gachoya, Truphena Kirongo, Fredrick Kiiru, Jane Njogu

Poverty, Gender, and Youth

The Covid-19 pandemic led to devastating economic and social disruptions globally including in the education sector. The pandemic disrupted access to both sexual and reproductive health services and safe spaces. As a result, many girls faced vulnerabilities that inhibited access to basic education, including risks of child marriage, early pregnancy, gender-based violence, female genital mutilation/cutting, sexual exploitation, and child labor. The negative impact of Covid-19 on girls' education underscores the need for interventions addressing the effect on school re-entry and retention. Kenya has a favorable policy environment for supporting retention within, and re-entry into, schools for vulnerable girls. Notable core …

Teaching For Transformation: Developing Agency And Solidarity Consciousness In A Critical-Transdisciplinary, Garden-Based Urban Environmental Studies Program, Pieranna Pieroni

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

This dissertation focuses on “Community Roots,” an instantiation of urban, garden-based environmental education that employs a “critical-transdisciplinary” design framework and pedagogies. The “crit-trans” construct, articulated by the Urban Environmental Studies Research Coven (Strong et. al., 2016) is offered as both a generative approach to liberatory (environmental) pedagogies with applications across the curriculum and as a form of resistance to neoliberal logics shaping educational (and other) settings. After situating Community Roots in its socio-environmental, institutional, historical and theoretical contexts, a detailed description of the course’s instantiation of crit-trans pedagogy is offered. Additionally, reflections of 14 youth and adult participants are analyzed, …

A Student Conduct Administrator’S Journey To Wellness, Corie Amanda Marie Mccallum

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

This dissertation research chronicles my experiences with emotions and learning as a student conduct administrator throughout the arduous process of investigating, becoming, and transforming by engaging sociocultural theory. Grounded in Authentic Inquiry (Tobin, 2006), this research centers my lived-experience and nuances the role of emotions in student affairs and especially student conduct practices. Throughout this dissertation I address themes surrounding reflexivity (Bourdieu, 1992), emotions (Turner, 2002) (Collins, 2004), and self-care. Each chapter is interpretive and impressionistic and represents my thinking as a researcher and conduct administrator. Throughout the chapters I narrate salient events and experiences in my student conduct practice …

An Assessment Of Undergraduate Students’ Research Literacy, Milushka M. Elbulok-Charcape

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

Research literacy refers to the knowledge and application of statistics and research methods knowledge. Research literacy is important because it enables individuals to become autonomous lifelong learners and informed research consumers. Compared to other types of literacies (e.g., informational, statistical, scientific, etc.), research literacy in the social sciences has received limited attention in psychological theory and research. As a result, assessments of research literacy have notable limitations. Some assessments place undue emphasis on content knowledge of statistics and research methods neglecting the application of knowledge, others present items in a de-contextualized manner, exploring conceptions or attitudes toward research itself rather …

Bridging The Educational Technology Gap: Issues Of Equity And Access In New York City Teacher Preparation, Christina Basias

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

This dissertation employs the use of primary research, oral history, and narrative and auto-ethnography of my own experiences as a hybrid educator across both systems, and the extant gaps in educational technology, or ed tech, implementation across two of the largest urban public education institutions in the country: the New York City Department of Education (NYCDOE) and the City University of New York (CUNY).

This research unveils the complex web of barriers that hindered the ability for teachers to learn and adopt technologies and the gaps within and between the NYCDOE and CUNY’s teacher preparation priorities regarding ed tech prior …

Characteristics Of Non-Residential (Commuter) Colleges And Factors Affecting Bachelor’S Degree Completion In A Non-Residential College, Sangdong Tak

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

Despite the abundant amount of studies about bachelor’s degree completion in higher education, little research paid attention to the characteristics of students attending non-residential institutions, given that this type of college accounts for approximately half of all the higher education institutions in the United States. Using student records and survey data, this study compares the student characteristics between residential and non-residential colleges at the institutional level. In addition, using a primarily non-residential college’s survey and student record data, this research explores diverse factors that affect students’ academic and social integration and their graduation at the individual level. Findings include that …

Por Ellas: A Latina’S Autoethnography On Emotions, Achievement And Agentic Learning, Ivonne Barreras

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

In the United States, students of Spanish-speaking descent classified as Hispanic, Latino, or Latinx attending public school districts continue to demonstrate alarmingly high academic underachievement and dropout rates. Standards-based learning environments and related assessments tend to marginalize people whose lived realities already make the prospect of achievement daunting. In other words, people living amid high-risk factors, including low educational and occupational aspirations, health, or family-related absenteeism, counterculture or early pregnancy, are often among those whose decision to drop out is most often influenced by social and academic experiences (Rumberger, 2011). Research on neuroplasticity and mindfulness explains the influence emotions have …

The Lopez Effect Remixed: The Significance Of Mattering Through A Hip-Hop Lens In Education And Beyond, Kashema Hutchinson

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

The goal of this dissertation is to examine the theoretical frameworks of mattering (Rosenberg & McCullough, 1981; Schlossberg, 1989; Love, 2018) in traditional and non-traditional spaces through a Hip-hop lens. When mattering is applied to marginalized groups, it centers them to a certain extent. In my dissertation, I examine how Dr. Nadia Lopez, the former principal of junior high school, Mott Hall Bridges Academy (MHBA), employed mattering in her holistic approach to education. Her dedication to her students, faculty and staff went viral on the popular blog Humans of New York in January 2015. Lopez’s commitment is to “open a …

Deserving To Belong: Complex Narratives Of Working And Learning In Self-Contained Spaces, Emily B. Clark

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

Using the tools of narrative, discourse, and visual analysis, this study examines the sensemaking of educators and former students who work(ed) and learn(ed) in self-contained special education settings. In three individual interview sessions (and one final sensemaking session), I interviewed fourteen educators and nine former students who work(ed) and learn(ed)in different kinds of self-contained settings within the New York City public school system.This project is not about a specific school, as self-contained classrooms exist in different configurations and locations throughout the city and the country. To protect the participants, all names and references to specific schools and programs have been …

From The Voices Of Five African American Teenage Girls: Demystifying The Role Of Stress In School, Selena M. Williams-Yii

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

This study explored how African American Teenage Girls framed and navigated their stressful experiences in educational contexts. Drawing from one-on-one interviews and focus groups, this study aimed to raise awareness about the ways African American Teenage Girls defined, interpreted, and internalized the tensions of stress in a school setting. This exploratory qualitative study was grounded in the conceptual frameworks of Black Feminist Theory (BFT), and Critical Race Theory (CRT). These theories were used to explore how systemic oppression may cause stress. By sharing their collective and individual stories, this study revealed my participants grappled with sources of stress, such as …

Cormack, Herbert, Collection, 1926-1988, Special Collections, Leonard H. Axe Library

Finding Aids

A collection of photographs, yearbooks, and newspaper clippings related to Herbert Cormack, his college years, and his career as a coach in Iowa.

Herbert Cormack (1900-1994), was born on June 2 in Kinsley, Kansas and grew up in Garden City, Kansas. He graduated from the Kansas State Teachers College of Pittsburg (now Pittsburg State University) in 1928. During his time at KSTCP, Cormack lettered in basketball for the 1926-1928 seasons. In 1928 Herbert and Elizabeth Cornelius were married on September 29. After graduating, Cormack coached for one year in Mound City, Kansas and five years at Pleasanton, Kansas before moving …

Chambers, Gene, Collection, 1952-2013, Special Collections, Leonard H. Axe Library

Finding Aids

The Gene Chambers Collection includes personal and professional papers and documents, including work from his time as a professor at Pittsburg State University and consulting work he did on engineering matters.

Pittsburg Board Of Education Collection, 1871-1987, Special Collections, Leonard H. Axe Library

Finding Aids

A collection of financial records and Board of Education minutes from 1871 - 1987 for School District No. 49 and USD 250 in Pittsburg, Kansas.

School District No. 49 of Pittsburg, Kansas and the surrounding area was organized in January of 1877. Beginning with a two-story wooden building, the school district either made renovations or added new schools every few years. District 49 grew from one classroom, requiring just one teacher, to needing 32 teachers to accommodate its 32 classrooms by 1891. The enrollment of students increased from 100 to 1,800 in eleven years. It was not until after 1962 …

Andrade, Audrey B., Collection, 1862-2014, Special Collections, Leonard H. Axe Library

Finding Aids

A collection of genealogical records, school records, work documents, music, photographs, and books related to Audrey Andrade and her friends and family.

Audrey Beatrice Edge Andrade was born in Stockton, Missouri on January 15, 1917 to George W. and Maud Ritter Edge. Andrade grew up in Pittsburg, Kansas, attended Lakeside Elementary School, and graduated from Pittsburg High School in 1934. She received her two-year education degree from Kansas State Teachers College (now Pittsburg State University) in 1936. She married John F. Andrade who served as a staff sergeant in the US Army during World War II. They had five children. …

Stilwell Heritage And Educational Foundation Collection, 1891-1997, Special Collections, Leonard H. Axe Library

Finding Aids

The Hotel Stilwell Hotel collection contains documents regarding the original establishment of the hotel, the history of the building, blueprints, architectural plans, proposals, financial records, legal matters, press releases, newspaper clippings, magazines and other publications, board and agenda notes from meetings of the Hotel Stilwell Board, historical registry papers, loans, grants, correspondence, and information from similar corporations including Camptown and the Little Balkans Foundation.

Marshall, Marguerite Mitchell, Collection, 1942-2001, Special Collections, Leonard H. Axe Library

Finding Aids

This collection includes information about the life and civil rights research by Marguerite Mitchell Marshall (1911-2002). It includes newspaper articles, family photos slides, programs, personal cards, correspondence, financial records, and scrapbooks relating to local and national African American contributors to the Civil Rights movement, Black History and politicians.

Marguerite Mitchell Marshall was born October 5, 1911 to Henry Levi and Emily J. Fonchoser Mitchell in Pittsburg, Kansas. Marguerite Marshall the attended Frederick Douglass School, a Pittsburg school for African-Americans, from 1917 to 1925; Pittsburg High School from 1925 to 1927; and College High on the campus of the Kansas Teachers …

Perceptions Of General Education And Special Education Teachers Towards Inclusion: A Quantitative Study, Charity Leigh Kinneer

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This study examined the attitudes of general education teachers and special education teacher of the inclusion classroom in the middle and high school levels. Using casual- comparative and survey methodology, the level of agreement or disagreement of these teachers’ attitudes towards the inclusive procedures was assessed in four areas: Planning, Classroom/School Environment, Collaboration/Team Partners, and Resources/Supports/Professional Development. The survey measured general education teachers and special education teachers in the middle and high school levels using a 19- item, five-point Likert scale. To address the research questions, an ANOVA was initially proposed. However, due to the low sample size of administrators …

Generational Learning Styles: A Phenomenology, Amy Marie Baxley

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to understand the unique learning styles of American college students from five of the six living generations (for the purpose of this study, it was assumed that members of the GI Generation, born 1901-1926, are not attending college nor are they an active part of the full-time workforce). The theories guiding this study are behaviorism and generational learning theory as it applies to adult learners. The theorists considered are B. F. Skinner and Karl Mannheim. As this study was designed to understand patterns of learning, communication styles, and pedagogical data as it pertains …

Solving The Problem Of Poor Teacher Retention In A Small Rural Mississippi School District, Melissa Danielle Yarbrough

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This applied research study was designed to determine how to solve the ongoing problem of teacher retention in a rural Mississippi school district. This study used both qualitative and quantitative research methods to determine how to solve the problem of teacher retention within one relatively small, rural Mississippi school district. After identifying common influencers, the researcher proposed a plan to offer a systematic retention plan for improved teacher retention that can be used within one rural Mississippi school district. The plan included guided instruction and established a program that addresses many of the issues that were discovered using a mix-method …

Recommendations For Improving A Sense Of Community Between Online Contingent Faculty And Higher Education Administrators, Heather Lee Strafaccia

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this applied study is to solve the problem of a lack of a sense of community between online contingent faculty and higher education administrators for a private university in the Midwest and to design a solution to address the problem. A multimethod design was developed, consisting of both qualitative and quantitative approaches. Online contingent faculty participated in individual structured interviews and a focus group to examine the current perception, problem, and preferred solutions to the problem of a lack of a sense of community with the participating institution. Higher education administrators and online contingent faculty participated in …

An Exploration Into Public Health Experiences Of Rural Residents To Facilitate Understanding Of Chronic Poor Health Habits: A Phenomenological Study, Marybeth E. Mitcham

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this hermeneutic phenomenological study was to interpret the public health education experiences of rural residents in one predominantly rural county. This county was identified by its pseudonym, Middlesex County, for the purposes of this paper. The research was done to identify causal factors contributing to the problem of non-compliance exhibited by many rural residents. The non-compliance has resulted in many of those residents choosing to not implement beneficial practices and information from public health education. The guiding behavioral theory for this study was Maslow’s behavioral theory of a hierarchy of needs. This theory describes the rationale behind …

The Impact Of National Board Teacher Certification On School Capacity, Sandra Kaye Michels

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this ex post facto causal-comparative study is to examine whether a greater number of National Board certified teachers on a school staff has an effect on school-wide standardized assessment outcomes. National Board teacher certification has been examined by researchers as a potential school improvement initiative to address persistent gaps in achievement as measured by state-mandated standardized assessments. The impact of National Board teacher certification on student outcomes has been examined at the individual classroom level and at the statewide level through analysis of scores on the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP). This study explored the impact …

Recommendations To Improve Co-Teaching Strategies In The Secondary Inclusion Classroom, Linda A. Stephen

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this applied research study was to improve co-teaching strategies at Belmont Middle School (a pseudonym), in north Georgia. The researcher used a multi-method design that included qualitative and quantitative data. Three data collection strategies were used in this applied research study; interviews from general education teachers, a focus group with special education teachers, and a survey completed by general education and special education teachers. The central question that guided the research study was: How can co-teaching be improved at Belmont Middle School located in north Georgia? Common themes that emerged revealed that co-teachers desired more time to …

Introduction To Jaepl Volume 26, Wendy Ryden

The Journal of the Assembly for Expanded Perspectives on Learning

Introduction to JAEPL Volume 26

(Emily 479) And Tra/Versing The Year, Naomi C. Gades, Paul Puccio

The Journal of the Assembly for Expanded Perspectives on Learning

(Emily 479) and tra/versing the year - Poetry

Academic Assessment Update, Georgia Southern University

Institutional Assessment & Accreditation

No abstract provided.

A Wild Yeast Laboratory Activity: From Isolation To Brewing, Amanda N. Scholes, Erik D. Pollock, Jeffrey A. Lewis

Biological Sciences Faculty Publications and Presentations

Microbial fermentation is a common form of metabolism that has been exploited by humans to great benefit. Industrial fermentation currently produces a myriad of products ranging from biofuels to pharmaceuticals. About one-third of the world’s food is fermented, and the brewing of fermented beverages in particular has an ancient and storied history. Because fermentation is so intertwined with our daily lives, the topic is easily relatable to students interested in real-world applications for microbiology. Here, we describe the curriculum for a guided inquiry-based laboratory course that combines yeast molecular ecology and brewing. The rationale for the course is to compare …